GHSBASEBALL

STORY BY MAKENZY BUTLER

The Gainesville Varsity Baseball Team, coached by Adam Miller, was all about player leadership. With many freshmen and only two seniors, leadership was more important than ever. “It’s been an interesting challenge with so many underclassmen,” varsity coach Adam Miller states. “We have started as many as seven freshmen and sophomores in games.”

This is a different dynamic than many past teams, and the upperclassmen played a huge role in helping “establish culture” and “teach our expectations.” Culture is what held the team together as "G/ME" (G over me) was their motto for the season Coach Miller says, “'G/ME' means we put the team ahead of ourselves ” Instead of playing for themselves, the team cultivated the mindset that they were representing Gainesville High School both on the field and off

Since moving to Region 8-AAAAAA the baseball team has faced many talented teams When asked how facing tough competition has impacted training, Coach Miller said, "Our preparation is the same regardless of who we are playing. Just try to be fundamentally sound and find a way to win.” The upperclassmen aided with this as well, as they led by example in both practice and the weight room.

Next season, the team will be led by two Gainesville High and MLB alums, Cris Carpenter and Micah Owings, with Adam Miller serving as assistant athletic director for the system. Carpenter, a 1984 graduate who played eight years professionally, will be the head varsity coach. Owings a 2002 graduate, completed his 10th year professionally in 2017 and will serve as the director of baseball operations.